Excellent early video production:
Burning Man 1995 Video
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
The Significance of the Samsung Note
First posted 3-15-12:
Like much in the history of human affairs, technical advancement does not generally happen in a smooth progression. It moves in fits and starts, and smart-phone technology has been on a tear for the last few years.
Palm was the first true smart-phone with a library of independent apps, but it was the iPhone that first found broad acceptance of the general public. Apple seems to have a way with tech fashion, even if they aren't always the first to market. Or the best.
The next major fit of development was the Android family. Motorola Droid offered the first significant competition to the iPhone. HTC improved performance and over this last year, Samsung has come to lead Android technology with its large displays, yet light weight.
We now have the Samsung Galaxy Note as its latest example, but is it too cool or simply too big? I'll start with a comparison of my Droid which is what I know best. The Samsung Note has:
100% more screen area.
50% taller
67% wider
250% more pixels
255% faster clock
80% more battery
60% more pixels in its camera
Plus a front camera
4G surfing and movies
4 times the RAM
16 times the ROM
Effective pen interface
So what's not to like? Well, it is 8 grams heavier but that's too small to notice. The Samsung Note also has no hard keyboard, but surprisingly, the screen is so large, I'm faster (and more accurate) on its soft keyboard than the Droid hard keyboard. The Samsung Note is better in every way than the standard Droid and even better in most ways than the latest iPhone. End of story? Not quite.
Surprisingly, the Note's best feature (the screen) is also the critic's biggest complaint, which is what this post is really about. The Note is being panned as a "phablet" because of its large screen. The logic is, it's too big to hold up to your face, and yet too small to compete as a tablet. Here's an example review:
By: Jonathan S. Geller - Feb 13th, 2012 at 03:45PM
"The Galaxy Note essentially has everything you’d want in a smartphone: a great dual-core processor, a solid camera, a beautiful display and good build quality, and it runs on ATT’s new 4G LTE network that delivers incredibly fast download speeds. Plus the battery seems actually decent so far, which is a triumph for modern smart-phones.
Throw all of that right out the window.
We now have the Samsung Galaxy Note as its latest example, but is it too cool or simply too big? I'll start with a comparison of my Droid which is what I know best. The Samsung Note has:
100% more screen area.
50% taller
67% wider
250% more pixels
255% faster clock
80% more battery
60% more pixels in its camera
Plus a front camera
4G surfing and movies
4 times the RAM
16 times the ROM
Effective pen interface
So what's not to like? Well, it is 8 grams heavier but that's too small to notice. The Samsung Note also has no hard keyboard, but surprisingly, the screen is so large, I'm faster (and more accurate) on its soft keyboard than the Droid hard keyboard. The Samsung Note is better in every way than the standard Droid and even better in most ways than the latest iPhone. End of story? Not quite.
Surprisingly, the Note's best feature (the screen) is also the critic's biggest complaint, which is what this post is really about. The Note is being panned as a "phablet" because of its large screen. The logic is, it's too big to hold up to your face, and yet too small to compete as a tablet. Here's an example review:
By: Jonathan S. Geller - Feb 13th, 2012 at 03:45PM
"The Galaxy Note essentially has everything you’d want in a smartphone: a great dual-core processor, a solid camera, a beautiful display and good build quality, and it runs on ATT’s new 4G LTE network that delivers incredibly fast download speeds. Plus the battery seems actually decent so far, which is a triumph for modern smart-phones.
Throw all of that right out the window.
The phone is too big. You will look stupid talking on it, people will laugh at you, and you’ll be unhappy if you buy it. I really can’t get around this, unfortunately, because Samsung pushed things way too far this time."
And it wasn't just Jonathan. Here's what Zach at BGR had to say:
Samsung Galaxy Note review: The smartphone that ‘Samsunged’ Samsung
By: Zach Epstein | Feb 22nd, 2012 at 12:01PM
"Holding this beast to your face while on a phone call in public will result in awkward stares. Not “maybe” or “might,” but “will.” It just looks silly."
By: Zach Epstein | Feb 22nd, 2012 at 12:01PM
"Holding this beast to your face while on a phone call in public will result in awkward stares. Not “maybe” or “might,” but “will.” It just looks silly."
One more - PC World's review:
"For most, the Note will be too big for a phone, but too small for a tablet. Rather, it’s an awkward in-between device, and will only appeal to a niche consumer base. "
I'm here to tell you, PC World and all the rest are dead WRONG. The Note will NOT be limited to a niche. It has hit the sweet spot in size and will become the new standard in smart-phone technology. Here's why.
As some of you may know, I've been a geek since before the word was widely used. I've been interested in computers since the smallest ones filled up a room, which was long before they became personal. It was much later that the first thing that could be considered personal technology was introduced, and it was a calculator.
"For most, the Note will be too big for a phone, but too small for a tablet. Rather, it’s an awkward in-between device, and will only appeal to a niche consumer base. "
I'm here to tell you, PC World and all the rest are dead WRONG. The Note will NOT be limited to a niche. It has hit the sweet spot in size and will become the new standard in smart-phone technology. Here's why.
As some of you may know, I've been a geek since before the word was widely used. I've been interested in computers since the smallest ones filled up a room, which was long before they became personal. It was much later that the first thing that could be considered personal technology was introduced, and it was a calculator.
If you think the lines are long for gadgets now, you should have been around in 1972 when HP introduced the original HP35 calculator. It sold for $395 which was over $2000 in today dollars, but you couldn't buy it at any price (no eBay back then). After placing only two magazine ads, the original HP35 calculator was back-ordered for more than six months.
This backlog was because the HP35 was SUCH a major advancement in technology, it is hard to imagine even in today's new gadget world. The closest competition to the HP35 calculator sat on a desk, weighed 25 pounds and cost more than $10,000 (or $50,000 in today dollars).
In contrast, the HP35 was designed to fit into William Hewlett's shirt pocket, which is the key to the issue at hand.
In contrast, the HP35 was designed to fit into William Hewlett's shirt pocket, which is the key to the issue at hand.
Even though back-ordered from their own distribution, I discovered from a friend at HP that I could buy their calculator at HP headquarters. This outlet was for employees, but he said they weren't checking IDs. I immediately flew my plane to Palo Alto, walked up to the front counter and bought two (an extra one for my cousin).
It's been that way my whole life. I watch a given technology then buy the latest and greatest when it's introduced; not because it's a fashion, but because it's significantly better in some technical way. I bought the very first Palm Pilot the day it was released. I generally hold off upgrading until there is a significant advancement. At their introduction I bought the first color Palm phone (also from Samsung), then the Palm Treo and Palm Centro in turn as they were significant advancements.
Just over two years ago I ended a long-term relationship with Palm and bought the original Droid on the day of its introduction. I considered the iPhone but the first version wouldn't even copy, cut and paste text, which I can't live without. Android has been amazing though there are still things the old Palm did that the Droid can not yet touch. But that's another blog post.
So why am I leaving the Droid behind so quickly? The usual reasons - significant advancements in technology which are listed above, but most importantly because of the size of the screen. All of that visual real estate is wonderful. For years now I've known the original HP-35 hit a sweet spot in physical size and weight. It was as big as possible without being too big to fit in a shirt pocket.
As it turns out the Samsung Note is almost the same size and weight as that original HP-35. I've been carrying the Note in my shirt pocket the last few weeks and it feels just like the HP35 I carried from years ago. So according to the reviewers, the only problem is how silly we look if we hold it up to our head, which is my second point - a true geek is like the Honey Badger - he doesn't give a shit.
And that's how I know I'm an authentic geek: I don't understand why it looks weird to hold a Samsung Note up to your head. Why does it matter? It's what it DOES that counts. I for one believe it's the ultimate geek-cred to side with function over fashion. And who's says Bill Hewlett wouldn't have looked cool talking on his new calculator if only there had been a cell tower around.
Who wants to bet the next iPhone is not bigger?
And that in three years the Samsung Note will be the standard size for a phone?
And then it will be cool.
Email your wager.
03-28-12 Samsung ships five million Galaxy Notes in just five months
04-05-12 Samsung's Galaxy Note is a freak hit
06-01-12 Too early to say I told you so?
06--20-13 Time to note a problem with the Note - both the power and volume buttons are in the worst possible locations. I had noticed this with other phones but hope for some reason it would be different with the Samsung, but alas... no. The problem is, these buttons are in exactly the place where you are most likely to hold the phone, which means they are constantly and inadvertently activated. It is a classic physical overloading fail. And Power should be slightly recessed, so it doesn't bump on, whatever it's location. Droid did this well.
Interesting survey about size:
And that in three years the Samsung Note will be the standard size for a phone?
And then it will be cool.
Email your wager.
03-28-12 Samsung ships five million Galaxy Notes in just five months
04-05-12 Samsung's Galaxy Note is a freak hit
06-01-12 Too early to say I told you so?
06--20-13 Time to note a problem with the Note - both the power and volume buttons are in the worst possible locations. I had noticed this with other phones but hope for some reason it would be different with the Samsung, but alas... no. The problem is, these buttons are in exactly the place where you are most likely to hold the phone, which means they are constantly and inadvertently activated. It is a classic physical overloading fail. And Power should be slightly recessed, so it doesn't bump on, whatever it's location. Droid did this well.
Interesting survey about size:
10-14-13 Upgraded to the Samsung Note 3 as it's brighter, lighter, faster with longer battery life and better camera. Also, the power button is no longer directly across from the volume buttons so both are inadvertently hit less often. I'm not crazy about the hard Home button which also powers up when not asked for, but I'll reserve judgment until I get a few more miles. Overall the device is a delight because of display, performance, and battery. More later.
02-12-14 Four months use and this is the best mobile device I've ever owned, mostly because of display quality, speed, and battery life. And the apps keep getting better.
09-24-14 Ultimate Vindication
11-01-14 Upgraded to Samsung Note 4 with faster charging and better battery life. This is the best portable computer I've ever owned.
08-22-16 I bought the Samsung Note 7 today. Once again, this is a brighter and higher resolution screen. Wait a minute. That was an understatement. It's amazing how each generation of these Samsung displays is brighter than the last. Holding these two phones next to each other with displays on maximum, the difference is like night and day. But how bright of a display do we really need? Brighter. Here's why. When you get into your forties and your close vision begins to go, you notice you can either hold the content further away, or you can increase the light level. Contrast is as important as (or more so) resolution or screen size. It allows you to see more detail on a given screen. It increases visual bandwidth. The new Note has the best display I've ever seen. Again.
Battery tech is also much improved (apparently, to the point of failure 09-22-16). And with wireless charging a standard feature, it charges faster, easier and lasts longer. Another plus for the Note 7.
Physically, the device is also narrower and just a bit lighter, both improvements.
On the downside, I don't like the curved edges. Already I've had a condition where the "1" key on Hacker's Keyboard would not activate because the touch sensitive layer does not wrap around the corner where the majority of the key was. But then if it did, you'd be activating functions when only holding the device, which would be a major problem. Also, when dragging, the effect of dragging stops as you approach the edge and your finger prematurely leaves the surface as the surface drops away. The result is that you can't drag something up to the edge. You are stopped a character short of the margin. The rounded edge is annoying and seems to have little practical value.
What exactly is the point of a curved edge? You do get to see a message arrive when the phone is face down, but does this relatively rare case make up for the UI failures? Hardly. Is this a case of fashion over function? Is Samsung looking for a physical branding device? If so, they should first make sure it does not impair the operation of the phone. In any case, the curved screen does not work for me. Give me a flat screen any day (with a little bezel to hold on to so I'm not activating features inadvertently).
Now for the surface. The glass back is slick looking but also quite literally slick. It's like holding a bar of soap. Do they want these things dropped so they can sell you another one? I added egrip phone strips which helps a lot, but why should I have to geek up such a premium device? Everything except the screen should be a high friction surface. The glass back is another design fail.
On the plus side, the camera operation is much improved. As for quality, I'll let you know when I get time to work with some of the images.
Adding the Samsung Gear VR is a blast, but much lower resolution than I expected. Perhaps that is the cost of fast and smooth response. Or do they spread those pixels over such a wide field of view that our fovea only gets a relatively low res?
Notwithstanding the battery issues, the Note 7 is two steps forward, one back, but that's still a net improvement.
(09-22-16 - As everyone knows by now, the Note 7 was a major failure. Guess I'll have to wait for the Note 8. Or something else.)
05-31-17 - What was radical in 2012 is now mainstream:
Smartphone screens find their size sweet spot
02-12-14 Four months use and this is the best mobile device I've ever owned, mostly because of display quality, speed, and battery life. And the apps keep getting better.
09-24-14 Ultimate Vindication
11-01-14 Upgraded to Samsung Note 4 with faster charging and better battery life. This is the best portable computer I've ever owned.
08-22-16 I bought the Samsung Note 7 today. Once again, this is a brighter and higher resolution screen. Wait a minute. That was an understatement. It's amazing how each generation of these Samsung displays is brighter than the last. Holding these two phones next to each other with displays on maximum, the difference is like night and day. But how bright of a display do we really need? Brighter. Here's why. When you get into your forties and your close vision begins to go, you notice you can either hold the content further away, or you can increase the light level. Contrast is as important as (or more so) resolution or screen size. It allows you to see more detail on a given screen. It increases visual bandwidth. The new Note has the best display I've ever seen. Again.
Battery tech is also much improved (apparently, to the point of failure 09-22-16). And with wireless charging a standard feature, it charges faster, easier and lasts longer. Another plus for the Note 7.
Physically, the device is also narrower and just a bit lighter, both improvements.
On the downside, I don't like the curved edges. Already I've had a condition where the "1" key on Hacker's Keyboard would not activate because the touch sensitive layer does not wrap around the corner where the majority of the key was. But then if it did, you'd be activating functions when only holding the device, which would be a major problem. Also, when dragging, the effect of dragging stops as you approach the edge and your finger prematurely leaves the surface as the surface drops away. The result is that you can't drag something up to the edge. You are stopped a character short of the margin. The rounded edge is annoying and seems to have little practical value.
What exactly is the point of a curved edge? You do get to see a message arrive when the phone is face down, but does this relatively rare case make up for the UI failures? Hardly. Is this a case of fashion over function? Is Samsung looking for a physical branding device? If so, they should first make sure it does not impair the operation of the phone. In any case, the curved screen does not work for me. Give me a flat screen any day (with a little bezel to hold on to so I'm not activating features inadvertently).
Now for the surface. The glass back is slick looking but also quite literally slick. It's like holding a bar of soap. Do they want these things dropped so they can sell you another one? I added egrip phone strips which helps a lot, but why should I have to geek up such a premium device? Everything except the screen should be a high friction surface. The glass back is another design fail.
On the plus side, the camera operation is much improved. As for quality, I'll let you know when I get time to work with some of the images.
Adding the Samsung Gear VR is a blast, but much lower resolution than I expected. Perhaps that is the cost of fast and smooth response. Or do they spread those pixels over such a wide field of view that our fovea only gets a relatively low res?
Notwithstanding the battery issues, the Note 7 is two steps forward, one back, but that's still a net improvement.
(09-22-16 - As everyone knows by now, the Note 7 was a major failure. Guess I'll have to wait for the Note 8. Or something else.)
05-31-17 - What was radical in 2012 is now mainstream:
Smartphone screens find their size sweet spot
02-10-21 Final vindication: when I first wrote this blog post in 2012, a 5.3" screen was considered freakishly large. Now anything that small is considered too small to use:
Next, I predict we'll get flexible 10" phones that wrap around your arm most of the time, but spring out flat when being used. You read it here first - 02-10-21
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Introducing Mud Bluff, Nevada
Many of you know I've been involved with the Burning Man Project for years as a Regional Contact. During that time I've helped to organize PermaBurn, Stone Soup and Buring Girl as well as many other Burner events and projects. I've also hosted various events and theme camps at my home in south Reno. What you may not know is that I've been seeking a larger and more remote location to host a permanent regional campout as well as continue this type of participation.
Over the last three years, I've reviewed hundreds of property listings and hiked the more interesting ground. On December 4th I went out to the Lahontan dam for yet another site visit.
This was my first impression as I drove onto the property, inspiring the title for this blog post. By the end of January 2017, I had purchased both this and the adjoining parcel.
Lahonton dam and reservoir to the west of the first 77 acre purchase in December of 2016.
An additional 39 acres with power and a well were purchased in January 2017, for a total of 116 acres.
As you can see, the Carson river crosses the property for about a thousand feet with about four acres actually on the north side of the river. The 26 acres of river bottom contain an oxbow from an earlier flow of the river and lots old cottonwood trees. Another 50 acres is sloping, alluvial bluff, with about 40 acres of flat desert on top, providing panoramic views in all directions.
The river facing west showing the low flow in December.
Beavers are under that log and made that small "dam" to the right. This is framed by the north 4 acres of the property across the river.
Lots of reeds and birds.
The bluff on the second parcel of land.
Dead cottonwood. Some are more than a hundred years old.
The 26 acres of bottom land from the top of the bluff
View to the North
View to the East
The 50 acres of sloping ground is in the middle. Yes, it's quite bleak in winter, but that creates a contrast with the river-bottom cottonwoods in May. Stand by for updated pictures.
That's the well-test being done - good water, and lots of it. Also, that pole brings power to the center of the property with transformers both below, and on top of the bluff.
What am I going to do with this property?
That's my newest challenge, but it will probably include a place to live, and space to continue hosting Burner events and art development. Email me if you'd like to be involved with this project.
Or visit our dedicated website or Facebook page:
Mudbluff.org
https://www.facebook.com/groups/303746580066581/?ref=bookmarks
Here's a review of our progress from 2020:
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Rotate Your Second Display
Originally posted 04-24-13:
If you open almost any webpage on a laptop or desktop computer you’ll see blank white bands along the sides. Even worse, you won’t see much vertical content. This is because most documents and web content scroll vertically, yet most displays are presented horizontally. And the sites that ARE formatted horizontally, are so wide they are difficult to read. Why is this?
It’s because of the movies.
Since movie and TV’s 1080P format with their 16 by 9 aspect ratio is now the sweet spot in volume display manufacturing, we have this strange situation where computer content does match the display presentation.
This is why you see people rotating their phones and tablets so often. Unfortunately, with laptop or desktop computers it’s a bit more clumsy to rotate the display. But the very thing that caused the problem (volume price point), provides a reasonable solution – buy a second monitor and turn it sideways.
This is actually easier than you might think. There are lots of optional vertical monitor stands, and most computers (including laptops) already have a second video port. So get a second display, turn it sideways, configure Windows screen settings and poof! The problem is solved.
Give it a try. It’s like having a whole new second computer.
Since movie and TV’s 1080P format with their 16 by 9 aspect ratio is now the sweet spot in volume display manufacturing, we have this strange situation where computer content does match the display presentation.
This is why you see people rotating their phones and tablets so often. Unfortunately, with laptop or desktop computers it’s a bit more clumsy to rotate the display. But the very thing that caused the problem (volume price point), provides a reasonable solution – buy a second monitor and turn it sideways.
This is actually easier than you might think. There are lots of optional vertical monitor stands, and most computers (including laptops) already have a second video port. So get a second display, turn it sideways, configure Windows screen settings and poof! The problem is solved.
Give it a try. It’s like having a whole new second computer.
And it's one that actually fits your work.
Monday, September 26, 2016
GeoOrbital Quick Change Electric Bike
How about an electric bike solution that can be installed in 60 seconds?
Weird music, but cool video and product:
GeoOrbital Quick Change Electric Bike
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Electra Meccanica Solo - A New Standard in Personal Transportation?
With Toyota, Tesla and the rest, electric cars have done well in the last few years. But what about a low-cost practical solution to the typical short range commute? Has Electra Meccanica found that sweet spot in personal transportation at $15,000 and under 1000 lbs?
I guess we'll be finding out in the next few months:
Electra Meccanica
TopSpeed's Review
Tuesday, September 06, 2016
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
CES: Motorized unicycle, anyone?
Originally posted on 01-16-12:
They say it's easier to ride than it looks, which is good because it looks difficult; until they make it look easy. Still, I wonder how comfortable it is after an hour of standing in such a rigid fashion?
It's right out of the Jetsons, and at only $1495 and $2295!
Cool videos:
SoloWheel
08-16-2016 Another Review and Update
Another one:
Ryno Bike
Tuesday, August 02, 2016
Who is Gary Johnson?
The 3rd Party Candidate - A Documentary
First posted in 2012:
Now more valid than ever:
From our pay-stubs, to our soft drinks, to our light-bulbs, to our bedrooms, to our toilets, the government is demanding more and more control of our lives. When will we finally say enough is enough? When will we reach our "John Galt" moment? When will we take our government back?
Last November Gary Johnson set a record for the Libertarian Party at one percent of the vote. He might have gotten far more except that most of America had no idea there WAS a viable third choice. Indeed, most of America agrees with more of his actual policies than any other candidate. Gary WILL make an excellent president and help move government back away from our door:
So how do we help gain awareness for Gary Johnson over the NEXT four years? I have an idea.
In Atlas Shrugged, "Who is John Gault?", was a rhetorical question reflecting the futility of the system. The question was asked over and over by the hopeless, but it also became hope itself for those who KNEW John Galt.
A similar question needs to be asked again, but not in fiction this time. If every time we see injustice in big government we reply with this question, maybe the nation will come to realize there IS an alternative.
If you agree, each time you see a Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Blog post describing government taking away your freedom, simply leave this comment:
"Who is Gary Johnson?"
At first these comments may annoy and confuse people, since anyone can Google the answer. And many will. That's important:
The Battle for Freedom NEVER Ends
Wikipedia - Gary Johnson
But for the rest of us, it'll be a way of reminding others how critical we believe our freedoms are.
And in time the question itself will take on a life and meaning of it's own.
So... will YOU ask a simple question for freedom?
Who IS Gary Johnson?
Keep asking until we get some answers.
03-26-2016 Libertarian candidate gains in polls
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Friday, June 10, 2016
Burning Man Buys Fly Geyser with 3799 Extra Acres
This will be a link page for everything that follows this new and dramatic development:
Burning Man Buys Fly Rance
Fly Ranch
Friday, April 15, 2016
Very cool minimal transportation - a fully enclosed electric / pedal car:
The Amazing Bike-Car Invention
Friday, March 25, 2016
Wheela - A New Standard in Minimal Transportation
Wheela - A New Standard in Minimal Transportation - push or electric, 6 to 9 lbs, $300 to $600. Be the first one on your block to Wheela:
Monday, February 29, 2016
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Arcimoto SRK 8
There seems to be a shortage of good entry level electric cars, perhaps until now. The Arcimoto is just over a thousand pounds, gets to 60 MPH in 7.5 seconds, go 80 miles on a charge and, sell from under $12K. If this vehicle can be delivered with this spec and price, it will make a significant advancement for local transportation:
Arcimoto SRK 8
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Burning Man Through the Years
First posted 096-29-2015:
Burning Man Through the Years - 1986 to 2015
Burning Man 1995
1996 was a major turning point for Burning Man. Some say it's when Burning Man grew up, others, when it jumped the shark. I think it jumps the shark (and many other challenges) every year. The best summary I've heard is, "Burning Man's the thing same every year - completely different.
Anyway, 1996 was before my time on the playa, but here's the best film I've found on the topic:
Burning Man 1996 "No Clemency For The Wood""
Also before my time on the playa:
1997 to 2000
And other content that spans several years:
2001 to 2010
Burning Man Timelapse Pre-2014
Early Wave, pic #8
Burning Temples Through the Years
The Fertile Desert - 2011 Time Lapse
Lake of Dreams - a VERY Cool 2013 Time Lapse
NSFW
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Sand Fantasy
First posted on 02-14-2008:
Click the play button to start the performance...
A friend forwarded this a couple of weeks ago, but I of course waited until today to pass it on.
At first you'll see the sand painting as the most obvious form of expression. But quickly you discover the phased transitions define a whole new type of choreography. The painting has a very limited life, which brought me to realize the art is more of a performance than than the images it creates.
With the unfolding story, it's more like, "dancing fingers in the sand". Or to get distracted with an Elton John alliteration, "tiny dancer in your hand". Like watching God's in the act of creation.
This artist is certainly the spirit that makes sand dance.
So simple. So effective.
Or do I see too much in the movement of sand?
Great music too.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Bigger You-Tube version...
And more sand art 11-30-09...
Kseniya Simonova - Sand Animation
Another of her more dynamic and dramatic presentation 04-10-2014:
Kseniya Simonova at Ukraine's Got Talent
09-03-15 A new form of Sand Art:
Sand Art 4k
Kseniya Simonova at Ukraine's Got Talent
09-03-15 A new form of Sand Art:
Sand Art 4k
Sunday, August 09, 2015
Minimal Transportation
08-09-15 A laptop version:
WalkCar
03-23-15 - And another:
OneWheel
10-27-10 - The Yike Bike has been trumped! Not as powerful or fast, but quite impressive in it's minimalism.
Video Link
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Liquid Piston's New Engine Design
It's fascinating to see the various ways of converting liquid fuel to horsepower. The Otto piston has long dominated, but is famously inefficient. Wankel was a nice challenge, but suffered from low compression and its oil squeegee valves burned more than they wiped.
The LiquidPiston guys set out solve the problems of both designs, and they may be getting close with this inverse Wankel approach. The picture above is of the older X1 design and the text at this link is distracting, but watch the video for a quick visualization:
Autoevolution on the LiquidPiston X Mini Engine
Here's a much better presentation of the technology:
Gizmag on the LiquidPiston X2 Engine
And here is a description of their early prototype:
MIT Technology Review of the X0 LiquidPiston
It will be interesting to see how this technology evolves.
Another weight and space efficient engine:
The Duke Axial
A better movie
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Amazing New Air Car - It's NOT About the Air!
Updates:
09-18-14 - Another radical light car for Paris. This one is 2100 lbs and uses Air/Hybrid to get 141 MPG. Are the French on a roll?
01-25-13 - Peugeot Cirtoen to Introduce Compressed Air Hybrid by 2016
09-07-12 AIRPod
09-07-12 Tata AIRPod
07-05-11 - Tata Air Powered Car to be Introduced in India
02-26-09 - Yet one more way to use compressed air for braking recovery from ETH Zurich
First posted 01-19-08:
And it's not even about the car!
(note - whoever owned the MDI page when I posted this blog has diverted it to a new investment group and broken some of the links below. I have redirected them to the French or Guy pages as well as possible for now - thanks to Chris from Future Net.)
Every now and then a an idea comes along that will change the world - and gets mostly ignored. Some of you have heard me talking about this new air powered car from MDI (Moteur Developpment International) in France which is now to be manufactured by Tata Motors of India.
MDI did a press release a few weeks back and it was handled like, well, another press release. The automotive press paraphrased a few paragraphs, but I wonder if they actually THOUGHT ABOUT what they wrote?
And when Tata Motors introduced their more conventional yet inexpensive Nano at the Detroit Auto Show last week, it got amazing coverage, but not ONE mention of this new air car to be manufactured by the very SAME company!
The highly touted Tata Nano is a cute little bug that will get more than 50 MPG - cool. But the MDI OneCat which is about the same size will go more than 3 TIMES farther on the same gallon of fuel! Did no one actually READ the spec sheet on the OneCAT?
To be fair, the objective of the Nano is low price, not mileage. And the OneCat is much lighter, which helps, but surprisingly, that's not the key to it's mileage advantage. Here's how they do it...
As almost everyone knows, the standard internal combustion engine is only about 30% efficient under the very best of conditions. This means 70% of the energy in a gallon of gasoline leaves the car as wasted heat.
The only heat that produces power is that narrow band of highest temperature that causes rapid expansion of air when the spark plug fires. Once the piston reaches the bottom of it's cycle, all the lower temperature energy from that cycle is wasted and must be pumped out the exhaust pipe.
If you add MORE heat at the point of ignition (higher octane), you get more power. But Carnot and his second law of thermodynamics limits us from using any of the heat BELOW the temperature of ignition. THAT is the primary reason for the INefficiency of the internal combustion engine. But what if we COULD use ALL of that heat?
CAT - Compressed Air Technology
Guy Negre of Formula 1 fame and his company, Moteur Developpment International have spent the last 14 years developing a new type of engine for automobiles.
Compressed Air Technology has been described as using air as fuel, but that's not quite right. The air works more like a battery. Guy's design actually uses a carbon-fiber air tank with up to 300 times normal atmospheric pressure driving a piston to give the car a range of 100 Km. You can think of this system as a standard compressor motor and air tank - except it's running backwards. The air tank drives the compressor, instead of the other way around.
So far, no big deal. Any advantage is a matter of strength, weight and volume per unit of energy stored in the "battery" - the carbon-fiber tanks helps some. But if a short range compressed air car is all they had, it wouldn't be very impressive. The next refinement is the key and I now believe it was created in response to the problem of freezing the engine as the air was decompressed. Whenever air pressure drops from 300 Bar to 1, the gas laws say the heat in that original volume is now spread out over a much greater area thus dropping the temperature. Guy's "fix" to this problem had a side-effect that I believe to be the biggest advancement in thermal energy extraction since the invention of the Otto-cycle in 1860! It effectively uses "wasted heat".
Bi-Energy Breakthrough
Guy Negre's brilliant innovation is to add a small fuel burner between the air tank and the motor. The heat from this burner not only keeps the engine from freezing up, it also extends the range for the compressed air tank by increasing the pressure of the air even more on it's way to the motor. Properly insulated, this burner could approach 100% conversion efficiency of the burned fuel. Here's the reason...
Small amounts of heat are not enough to turn over a reciprocating motor. But when you add a compressed air tank, it provides a pressure bias great enough to drive the motor on it's own. Now add the burner. Per the gas laws, the pressure increase is proportional to the heat added - it doesn't require a critical temperature of ignition! You could run it tepid or boiling - ANY heat adds power. It's just a matter of how much.
If you double the burn rate, you'll double the added expansion. Since there's no point of ignition, there's no critical temperature before this energy is extracted. ANY heat added by a burner (or other source) will simply add proportional expansion and energy extraction. Theoretically, most of the energy from a gallon of gasoline (or stack of firewood) could be used to drive the motor.
Check the spec sheet above. I assume these are actual measurements. The OneCAT will go 100 Km on air alone, but another 700 Km on only 10.5 (1.5 Liters per 100 Km x 7) liters of fuel! That works out to almost 157 MPG!
More Than JUST an Amazing New Car
MDI has a good chance of creating an amazingly efficient little car, and that's cool. But what's REALLY exciting are all the other potential industrial applications.
Considering generation and line losses when producing electricity, it may even now be more efficient to run Bi-Energy motors at the site of the application instead of buying electricity. Or we could boost mechanical power from solar heating. Or hot sewer water for that matter! ANY source of heat could be used. It's just a matter of degree and effectiveness.
OK. You'll still need electricity to provide the compressed air bias, but the rest of the energy would be more efficiently extracted - the hotter, the better. What about recycling the heat from air conditioners to drive their OWN motors? I'm not talking about perpetual motion here. There's no free ride. It's just that the heat is no longer has to be totally wasted. This approach provides an excellent possibility of dramatically increased efficiency in anything that needs a rotating motor and has wasted heat available. (Note - MDI was WAY ahead of me - I just found this link on their site... Further Applications - WOW!)
These ideas are worth more than just a press release.
It's a whole new way of thinking about energy!
More Air Car Energy Links...
Guy Negre Page
MDI and Indranet
Dr Louis Arnoux Interview
Future Net
ZevCat
Wiki
Others are picking up on using waste heat in this fashion - The VGT RoundEngine
06-20-20 Liquid Air Battery
10-13-25 Liquid Air Storage
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